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Hello and welcome to the WrestleTalk MECHA NEWS! I am Luke Owen. Give us a subscribe,
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Where would you like to see CM Punk go? WWE or AEW? And we’ll be talking about a possible
CM Punk WWE return later in this news episode, as well as backstage news on NXT going to
USA Network, and a huge AEW star suffering a possible injury ahead of All Out. And at
the end of this news we’ll be releasing my Muscle Man Dance music video punishment
for losing WrestleLeague Season Two. Which, I think might be just as much of a punishment
for you as it is for me. Click the timestamps down below to jump to any of those stories,
but first. We’ll kick off this news episode by sending
out our congratulations to Seth Rollins’ girlfriend Becky Lynch and Becky Lynch’s
boyfriend Seth Rollins, as The Man took to Twitter and Instagram to announce she’s
now engaged to The Beast Slayer’s massive bank account! The current Raw Women’s Champion
posted this was the happiest day of her life, and her co-workers and friends were out in
force to also share their excitement. Ranging from the standard replies from the likes of
Nikki Bella saying, “Awww yay! Love this so much! You deserve all the happiness in
the world!!!” and Brie Bella adding, “Yay!!!! Congrats!!! So happy for you both!!!” to
the more ridiculous expressions of emotions like Renee Young who posted, “Ahhhhhhhhhh
ajjdjxjskkskkdndnsdn this is the best”. But that’s a lot of lady folk responding,
let’s check in with how super serious Lance Storm reacted to the news. “Congrats to
you both.” Not even the hint of an emoji there, Lance, I like it.
On a serious note, while it is funny to poke fun at Seth Rollins for his recent Twitter
missteps and his lack of selling in recent weeks, this is fantastic news for both of
them, and we here at WrestleTalk wish them a lifetime of happiness. Let’s raise a glass
to the happy couple. Maybe they can talk about their upcoming wedding
planning on a new podcast series... ...As The Hollywood Reporter announced yesterday
that WWE have partnered with Endeavour Audio to launch a WWE podcast network. And with
every wrestler in the world having a podcast these days, WWE have picked the perfect time
to jump into this incredibly saturated market. Details on the podcast series they’re going
to launch will be announced at a later date, but we wish them the best of luck in their
future endeavour. Geddit… because Endeavour Audio… and.. Yeah.
Triple H said of the news on Twitter: “Another expansion of @WWE’s massive social and digital
footprint. The partnership between @EndeavorAudio and #WWE will bring a best-in-class product
to our fans.” Which is a bold claim, Trips. Good luck becoming one of the banging pods
to listen to ahead of WrestleMania. Not my words, Trips, the words of Metro Newspaper.
Speaking of Smackdown, and there hasn’t really been a lot of chat about Eric Bischoff
since the announcement of him becoming the Executive Director for the blue brand. Dave
Meltzer first reported that Bischoff’s role within WWE would be very different to the
one Paul Heyman has on Raw despite them having the same title - with Heyman working closely
with the creative team and Vince McMahon, while Bischoff will instead be a go-between
for WWE departments and the TV networks to make sure everyone is on the same page.
Meltzer noted that Bischoff wouldn’t have any creative involvement, and his name hasn’t
been mentioned in many meetings with the Smackdown writers, but Bischoff himself denied these
reports, saying that he was still in an induction phase for the role before he really sinks
his teeth in. However that was a month or so ago now, so what’s the latest? Well,
Bryan Alvarez has posted on the Wrestling Observer message board when someone asked
him what level of involvement Bischoff has on Smackdown saying, “As of last week I
was told, ‘He shows up.’” Sweet gig if you can get it.
Speaking of former WCW employees, and it was a surprise to wrestling fans around the world
when former voice of WCW Tony Schiavone appeared on an episode of AEW’s Road to All Out.
Not the least of which MLW, who currently have Schiavone under contract. It was then
reported that Schiavone was set to leave MLW and head over to AEW before their weekly TV
show debuts this coming October on TNT. Dave Meltzer has now reported in the latest
Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Schivaone and AEW have reached a deal for him to come
in and call their shows, adding that All Elite Wrestling and MLW have come to an agreement
for him to work for both promotions. Interestingly, Meltzer adds that once the new wrestling war
began following AEW’s launch in January, WWE were also interested in signing Tony Schiavone.
This ties into a previous report that WWE are currently trying to sign as much talent
as possible, even people they have no interest in, in order to stop them going to competition.
But Schiavone isn’t the only commentator signed by AEW, as Goldenboy announced via
Twitter he’s also signed a deal with the company. Goldenboy provided the commentary
for AEW’s second show Fyter Fest, a show which wrestling fans said was a big step up
in terms of commentary, following the criticisms of Alex Marvez at Double or Nothing.
It’s unknown at this point when Schiavone will start with AEW, or if he’ll be around
for All Out next weekend. And someone else with a scary question mark
over their head is Jon Moxley, who made a huge impact in All Elite Wrestling when he
debuted for the company in the closing moments of Double or Nothing. Moxley is set to face
Kenny Omega at All Out in one of the show’s big marquee matches, but it’s now being
reported that he could be dealing with an elbow injury.
Dave Melzter is reporting that Mox might have picked up an infection while in Japan working
the G1, and noted that all of his advertised singles matches for Northeast Wrestling were
turned into tag matches, with the exception of his match with Pentagon Jr, which he insisted
on doing and was careful not to take any bumps on his elbow.
There’s no word on whether Moxley will be cleared for All Out, and we here at WrestleTalk
wish him a speedy recovery. But what’s the backstage news of AEW’s
head-to-head competition that came earlier this week?
After months and months of speculation, it was announced by WWE this week that NXT would
be heading to national TV, and go head-to-head with AEW with a new live two-hour weekly show.
However, NXT isn’t going to end up on FS 1 which had been the original plan, with Fox
telling their affiliates a few weeks ago to expect a new wrestling show on that channel,
and will instead air on USA Network - the current home of Raw and Smackdown Live.
It’s being reported that Triple H told NXT wrestlers backstage at the most recent set
of tapings that a TV announcement was coming soon, saying it would happen on Raw - which
WrestleVotes also reported. As we now know the announcement never came, with the speculation
being that WWE were upset the news leaked out early and scrapped the segment.
As to why NXT will air on USA Network and not FS 1 as originally planned all comes down
to All Elite Wrestling. Dave Meltzer writes, “Anyone who knows Vince McMahon knew the
move would be a counter. The key point brought up was that a lot of people felt that a show
on lower-rated FS 1, which is in fewer homes than TNT, could lose in the ratings, something
in this case McMahon couldn't stand for.” He adds, “As Vince McMahon noted internally,
wrestling fans are already conditioned to watch WWE on USA and not on FS 1, plus in
a wrestling war being on the stronger station and in slightly more homes overrode the advantages
of being with FOX.” Meltzer adds that someone close to the situation
told him that because USA Network usually pulls in 1 million viewers for Suits on that
day and time slot, there’s now a pressure on NXT to deliver on ratings. While Vince
McMahon currently has no involvement in NXT - even when it goes live on USA - that situation
could change if the show doesn’t draw in fans. Not only that, but USA Network this
year have been heavily involved in changes to Raw and Smackdown, including demanding
the Raw Reunion special and the creation of the Wild Card, which was a compromise made
by Vince McMahon as USA wanted to scrap the brand split entirely.
One massive positive to all of this - apart from us wrestling fans who get to enjoy a
lot of great wrestling - is that top tier NXT stars will now likely be offered new higher-paid
contracts. Melzter writes, “While not confirmed, the word going around is that all developmental
deals are going to be changed to main roster deals shortly. One would think that WWE would
up the scale for new signees to prevent the next hot talent from going to AEW, but that
also hasn't happened yet, but it does figure to be the next logical step as this plays
out.” But now it’s time for everyone’s favourite
segment on the WrestleTalk News - speculation on CM Punk’s wrestling future!
Ever since All In last year, there has been speculation that CM Punk could strike up a
deal with Cody and The Young Bucks. However Punk said recently that he’s been annoyed
at Cody and The Bucks posting about their meetings and talks with him on social media,
as it just adds fuel to the fire of CM Punk to AEW confirmed.
And in perhaps the most surprising news of 2019, Dave Meltzer is now reporting, “A
lot of people believe because of how the talks with AEW went and his public reaction a few
weeks ago, that he's WWE-bound.” This news is surprising for several reasons,
not the least of which the lawsuit between Punk, Colt Cabana and WWE doctor Chris Amann,
and Meltzer adds that those he’s spoken to in WWE don’t believe he’ll return.
However, the word is that CAA - the talent agency who represent both Punk and WWE - reached
out to Fox about the possibility of CM Punk co-hosting the WWE talk show on FS 1. Dave
Meltzer adds, “The impression is WWE wouldn't like it but things change daily. It's only
something Punk's agent brought up.” So after months and months of CM Punk to AEW
confirmed, we might be heading back to CM Punk WWE return confirmed!
And now, as the loser of WrestleLeague Season Two, I present to you my punishment music
video -
The
Muscle Man Dance. Watch me play CastleVania poorly by clicking
the ScreenStalker video that’s just appeared on screen right now. I promise you, it’s
probably better than watching me dance. I’ve been Luke Owen and that was Mecha News.